Inside the Braves with MLB.com's Mark Bowman

Hanson named Opening Day starter

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez announced Tommy Hanson will serve as his Opening Day starter and that Jair Jurrjens will start the April 13 home opener against the Brewers.

Hanson will be making his first Opening Day start when he faces the Mets at Citi Field on Thursday afternoon. The 25-year-old right-hander will make his final tuneup while facing the potent Tigers lineup at Champion Stadium this afternoon.

Jurrjens will make his season debut when the Braves play the Mets on April 7 in the second game of three-game set. Because there is a scheduled off day between the first and second games, he would be pitching with two extra days of rest. To compensate for this, he will likely throw a longer bullpen session on Monday or Tuesday.

Gonzalez also confirmed that he plans on sending Mike Minor to the mound for the April 8 series finale against the Mets. Brandon Beachy will make his season debut when the Braves open a three-game series against the Astros on April 9.

Randall Delgado and Julio Teheran are still battling for the fifth spot in the rotation. The Braves will only need to use the fifth spot in the rotation three times before Tim Hudson makes his scheduled return in late April.

Hanson could return on regular rest for the April 10 game in Houston or with an extra day of rest on April 11. The fifth starter will make his first start in one of these games.

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4 Comments

Kris Medlen is the Atlanta Braves 5th starter. Doesn’t matter how you slice it, the guys is head and shoulders above Delgado and Teheran. Has been and likely always will be a tougher more effective big league starter. I mean an idiot would look at Glavine or Maddux and say they didn’t have all the tools needed to succeed in the majors. QTip is that idiot. I mean could we have a more stark contrast this ST? Both of the “can’t miss prospects” that we weren’t willing to deal for a decent bat over the winter have just sucked. Medlen has come back better than when he left. I’m starting to think Wren has a learning disability. Why is this even an issue? I mean we can find a long reliever anywhere(insert Livian Hernandez here). We have a ton of kids who will wind up in Gwinnett who could step in that role.What is this guys problem? He has been downplaying Medlen who had already earned a starting role before he was hurt since last winter. Frankie is just thick. Kris Medlen is everything I would want in a baseball player, playing for me as a coach. He is tough, he is willing to take on any role assigned him, he has pinpoint control(hugely important in MLB) and he is SUCCESSFUL. It’s time for QTip and Fredi to get their collective heads out of their asses.

I don’t know if Medlen’s long-term role will be as a relief pitcher or starting pitcher, but I think his overall value is greater as a starter — especially at this time. Both Teheran and Delgado could use some more time in the high minors. There always exists the opportunity that the Braves will need to call up a starter during the year. In that case either Teheran or Delgado should be more ready to make the trip to the major leaugue camp. But at this time, a proven starter, like Medlen, who can successfully pitch into the later innings has considerable value.

I agree there are too many left handed hitters on the team but backup 3B isn’t that bad in this case. Between Prado, Diaz and the new guy (not to mention Chipper if he’s ever healthy again) LF and 3B are covered vs lefties and righties. Not sure what the idea is when Chipper comes back though.

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